Fugazi announces run for Eggman’s Assembly seat

STOCKTON — Christina Fugazi, a member of the Stockton City Council the past four years, has a different political office in mind.

Fugazi, 49, said Wednesday she will run for the District 13 seat on the California State Assembly. The seat is currently held by Susan Eggman, who announced earlier this year she is running in 2020 to replace termed-out Cathleen Galgiani in the District 5 seat in the state Senate.

“I’ve loved being on the council,” said Fugazi, who was elected to a second council term last year. “People who know me know I work very hard. But I have to sit down and think how much can we do on the local level? Time and time again, Sacramento is who we have to work with.”

If Fugazi is elected, it will bring major change to her life. Asked in the past if she ever considered running to be Stockton mayor, she has said she would not do so because if she was elected, she would have to give up her full-time job as a science teacher at Venture Academy. She also would have to give up her teaching job if elected to the Assembly next year.

“It wasn’t an easy decision,” said Fugazi, who is running as a Democrat. “But as a science teacher, what we do is ask questions and find solutions. Solutions to a lot of the problems we have (must) come from the state. I’m trying to change people’s lives as much as I can for the better.”

As of now, Fugazi’s lone opponent is county supervisor and former city Councilwoman Kathy Miller, who also plans to run as a Democrat. The primary election is March 3.

Fugazi listed three top issues she plans to focus on:

• Homelessness. “On the city side, we don’t have the resources or flexibility I think we need in order to adequately address that issue,” she said. “It’s not going to go away unless we have some action from the state.”

• Crime. “I want to support our law enforcement agencies,” Fugazi said. “Again, I think the state can do a better job. I think we need to support (law enforcement) with policies which can better address the issues we have in our area.”

• Veterans issues. “We need to provide mental-health programs. I have a special place in my heart for veterans,” she said.

Fugazi also said she wants to join Eggman and Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs in the fight to bring a full-fledged state university to the city. And she vowed to be a diligent campaigner.